1 . The grocery store might not be your favorite place to visit when you’re at home, but isn’t it ever fun when you’re in another country? Honestly speaking, they’re one of those strange little destinations that I like to sniff out everywhere I go, much as other travellers head toward clothing stores, libraries, cafés or galleries.

The biggest beauty of the grocery store—whether it’s a huge supermarket or a tiny one—is that it gives you a glimpse into what local people buy to cook. This offers clues into their lifestyles and preferences, and into the agricultural and cooking practices of the country. I stare at the strange fruits and vegetables, the seafood, the cheese, the spices, the breads, and oh, the chocolate... always the chocolate!

Being an environmental nerd ( 痴 迷 者 ) I am, I like paying attention to packaging, which can reflect their attitude towards environmental protection. Italy, for example, has a habit of requiring customers to bag their fruits and vegetables in plastic for weighing, while Sri Lanka leaves everything loose in bins. In Brazil, everything is prepackaged in a layer of plastic.

People in grocery stores tend to be friendlier. They smile, say hello, and sometimes ask questions, which can lead to great conversations. I had a further discussion with a teen-aged cashier in Sri Lanka, over which bag of crunchy mix to buy. He insisted that the one labeled ‘spicy’ would be too hot for me, but I told him I was willing to risk it. He laughed and we ended up talking about my favorite Sri Lankan foods for ten minutes.

The financial savings extend to souvenirs, too. Whether it is ground spices for my mom or chocolates for my kids, the grocery store is the first place I look for unique gifts. It’s interesting then to come home and look at one’s own local grocery store through new eyes. What would a visitor think? What stands out, and what do the food displays say about us as a culture? You might be surprised by what you realize.

1. What is the benefit of visiting grocery stores of other countries in the author’s opinion?

A．Knowing their financial practice.

B．Making friends with store owners.

C．Buying cheaper food and souvenirs.

D．Knowing local people and the country.

2. Why does the author mention some countries she visited?

A．To show their strange lifestyles.

B．To show the levels of their wealth.

C．To show their packaging advantages.

D．To show their environmental awareness.

3. What can be inferred from paragraph 4?

A．Sri Lankans tend to become friendlier.

B．Grocery stores are always social places.

C．People like to share their ideas about food.

D．More cultures can be learned in grocery stores.

4. What would the author probably suggest readers doing?

A．Visiting grocery stores while travelling.

B．Buying cultural souvenirs in foreign countries.

C．Knowing the grocery culture before travelling.

D．Exchanging shopping experience with friends.